APRIL 11 | Birthdays and Events

Notable Birthdays for April 11

Wentworth Cheswell (1746-1817) - First Black person elected to public office in the U.S.

Elmer E. Ellsworth (1837-1861) - The first Union officer who lost his life in the Civil War.

Mary White Ovington (1865-1951) - Co-founder of the NAACP.

Percy Lavon Julian (1899-1975) - Black chemist and pioneer in the chemical synthesis of medicinal drugs from plants.

Dalia Messick (1906-2005) - Comic strip artist who created comic strips under the name Dale Messick in order to get her work published.

Jane Bolin (1908-2007) - The first Black female judge in the U.S.

Hattie Gossett (1942-Still Living) - Writer who focuses on lifting the self-esteem of young black women.

Bill Irwin (1950-Still Living) - Professional circus clown.

Memorable Events for April 11

1876 - The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is organized in NY.

1881 - The Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, a higher education institution for Black women.

1890 - Ellis Island is designated as an immigration station.

1945 - American forces liberate the Buchenwald Concentration Camp.

1953 - The Department of Health, Education and Welfare is created.

1968 - President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1968, prohibiting housing discrimination.

1970 - Apollo 13 is launched with to the destination of the moon.

1976 - The Apple I motherboard for a computer is created.

1980 - The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regulates sexual harassment in the workplace.